Three members of Taiwan’s Velvet Collective group are facing deportation after performing without a permit at an event. French-Taiwanese DJ Nathan Alzon says his friends Daniel, Chupis and YuHan were given just 14 days’ notice to leave Taiwan since the authorities reportedly stopped them from performing and end their music activities. Alzon adds that the trio holds ARC visas and have been living in Taiwan for six to nine years, during which time they have learned Taiwanese and become integral to the electronic music and broader communities. A petition calling for the Taiwanese government to allow the DJs to remain in the country has been launched and is gaining support.
A statement from Alzon on Instagram calls the punishment “unfortunate”, adding that his friends were merely following their passion and didn’t realise a permit was required to perform. “This lack of information has now led us into an unfortunate situation,” he said. Magistrate Huang Hai-Ming of New Taipei’s Tamsui District said that authorities decided to impose the penalty after it was found that the foreign nationals had infringed on Taiwan’s laws during a public event. Alzon says his friends have contributed more to Taiwanese society than locals could ask for and urged everyone to spread the word to help them stay.
The Velvet Collective is known for its diversity and nonchalant chemistry in artistic expression, according to Mixmag. There is a sense that the Taiwanese authorities have caused an internal rift in the electronic music community because of their decision. The Velvet Collective refers to itself as a group of “like-minded music lovers, DJs and creatives” enthused with a desire to create and participate in artistic expression. The community also seeks to “bring Taiwan’s underground electronic music scene closer to the world”. The DJs and their supporters believe that the recent events have thrown up questions and challenges regarding the freedom of artistic expression in Taiwan.
This incident raises questions about the repercussions of authorities enforcing rules and giving punishments without due consideration of the individuals and communities that such actions affect. Some national, as well as international supporters, have called for the Taiwanese government to reconsider its decision and let the DJs stay in Taiwan. The petition has gathered a few thousand signatures and continues to garner more support as the situation develops. For local electronic music fans, the incident is a reminder that Taiwan still has a way to go in establishing a more supportive and broad-minded custom to create a flourishing creative industry
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